The Catholic Church and Marriage Annulments

Pope Francis’ changes in the annulment rules for Catholics are important for some Catholics but not for all.

Catholicism is going the way of its parent, Judaism (remember, Jesus was a Jew).

In Judaism there are Reform as well as Conservative and Orthodox communities. This arrangement is not yet formalized in Catholicism, but the outlines of a similar broadening are in place.

Conservative and orthodox Catholics welcome this annulment concession by the Vatican; reform Catholics don’t need it. Their consciences are their Vatican. Reform Catholics, whose numbers are swelling, are still bonded to the church but not to the Roman Curia.

DANIEL C. MAGUIRE

Milwaukee

The writer is a professor of theology at Marquette University.

To the Editor:

Pope Francis’ reforms of the annulment process in the Catholic Church might be a good thing — and I assent to them — but I also fear that such reforms will appear to non-Catholics as “Catholic no-fault divorce.”